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The 2009 Nissan GT-R, also affectionately known as “Godzilla,” was named Motor Trend’s 2009 Car of the Year.

Until now, the Nissan has never been judged against cars like Ferrari or Lamborghini. But the underdog trumped the competition and found its position in the spotlight with ease this year.

Motor Trend writes:

“In the kingdom of supercars, the GT-R positively belongs. Be it comparing 0-to-60 sprints, quarter-mile times, 60-to-0 braking, or lateral acceleration, the GT-R is one of the world’s best. Don’t believe us? Its cornea-melting 0-to-60 run of 3.3 seconds is quicker than that of the BMW M6, the Porsche 911 GT2, the Lamborghini Gallardo LP-560, and the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren. It even manages to run door to door with the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano and the Corvette ZR1.”

Automobile Magazine also named the Nissan GT-R its Car of the Year. And Popular Science honored the car in its “Best of What’s New” awards as well, calling it “A 21st-century supercar, at a $120,000 discount.”

The engine of each GT-R is hand-built in a temperature-controlled room to ensure parts don’t expand or contract during fitting. The V6 engine uses plasma-coated cylinder bores to ensure optimal efficiency and twin IHI turbochargers to produce 480 HP. And to optimize weight over the rear wheels and offer minimal load shifting, the GT-R is the world’s first all-wheel-drive production car to feature a rear-mounted transaxle.

According to chief vehicle engineer Kazutoshi Mizuno, a Nissan racing team director in the 1990s, his goal with the GT-R was to produce a “multiperformance supercar that can be driven fast and skillfully by just about anybody in just about any road condition.” Thus, his mantra, “Anyone, anytime, anywhere.”